Howard injured himself in the first half of the World Cup qualifier game between the United States and Mexico on Friday.

The timing could not be worse be for the Rapids.

The team is in the MLS playoffs and Howard will miss the Rapids’ Western Conference finals series against the Seattle Sounders and the beginning of 2017 training camp.

This was Howard’s first season with the Rapids and he was a key part of the team’s victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Nov. 6 in the Western Conference semifinals. He made two saves in a penalty kick shootout in that game.

The Rapids will turn back to goalkeeper Zac MacMath, who started the season for the Rapids before Howard joined in the summer.